News

Did you know Van Alstyne has had an incredible, local college since 2004?  Grayson College South Campus is located on the West side of Van Alstyne, right in front of the new Van Alstyne High School that will open in 2024.

Something that makes this college campus so special, is you do not have to be a full time college student to take classes and benefit from the incredible offerings.  Grayson College South Campus is now offering community education courses with a series of lectures on the history of Grayson County and Van Alstyne, American Heart Association courses and evening Welding courses as well. January 23rd kicks off the new lecture series on the history of Van Alstyne and Grayson County with a lecture on Random Histories of Grayson County. Review and sign up for these programs on the programs registration page here.

Explore all Grayson County South Campus programs, services and more here.

Did you move here because of the incredible reputation of the school district? If you are, you are one of many who sought out living in Van Alstyne because of the wonderful school district.  One aspect that makes VAISD so special is the Van Alstyne Education Foundation.  It is an organization that is most well-known for senior scholarships and teacher grants, awarding nearly $700,000 since its creation in 2012 including over half a million endowment.

Annual community fundraising events include the Sporting Clay Shoot, the Little Big Town 5k and Family Fun Run, and their Gala coming up on February 22nd.  However you do not have to wait for one of these events. To contribute to this remarkable foundation now, you can donate any amount here.

An interesting fact that was shared with my by VAEF board members is many of the donors on the teachers themselves.

Find out more about the Van Alstyne Education Foundation and how you can get involved on their website here.

Crystal DeBacker
Media Coordinator
City of Van Alstyne

cdebacker@cityofvanalstyne.us
903-357-1088

UPDATE (01/10/2024):
Utilities completed, tested and connected. Concrete pavement has been completed from RR to Preston St. Excavation for drainage and pavement along VA Pkwy will continue west past Preston St intersection. It will be followed with work on Preston south to Cooper.

Van Alstyne is in the process of a downtown revitalization.

Phase 1 included the construction of a new parking lot at Main and Marshall.

Phase II addressed drainage issues, a project that is now complete.

Phase III will pave Van Alstyne Parkway from the railroad tracks heading west to Waco Street. This phase will also pave Preston Ave from Van Alstyne Parkway to Cooper St. Concrete streets, curb and gutter, landscaping islands, and the installation of underground chase ways that will enable the city to take overhead utilities underground. Phase III has been awarded to Quality Construction and commenced work October 16, 2023.

Phase IV will be a sizable segment of the project and will cover the paving of Preston Ave starting at Cooper St. heading south to Marshall St. The project will then turn east on Marshall St and pave Marshall to Main before turning north and paving Main St back to Jefferson. New concrete streets, curb and gutter, streetlights, park benchers, landscaping, overhead lighting and underground chase ways. While the renderings depict the railroad tracks on Preston Ave being stamped as they are in the Central Social District, the interurban tracks that are presently on Preston Ave will be saved and reused.

Get the monthly updates on this project and others straight from City Manager, Lane Jones, is his monthly reports here.

City Manager’s Report – December 2023 Update:
Contractor has completed upgrades to Sanitary Sewer lines and manholes along
VA Pkwy.
Water line along VA Pkwy has been completed, tested and service restored to
residents and the Downtown Park.
Excavation for drainage and pavement along VA Pkwy is expected to commence
soon.
Once complete the contractor will move to installation of electrical and
communications sleeves along Preston St (S) from VA Pkwy to E Jefferson.
Affected businesses will be contacted to coordinate any lane closures.

City Manager’s Report – November 2023 Update:
Contractor has completed field “potholing” for Sanitary Sewer line and manholes
along VA Pkwy. Line will be completed by Nov 10. Manholes will be pour in place.
Water line along VA Pkwy has also commenced and will be installed over the next 2
weeks. Water connections are being coordinated with the residents and businesses.
Excavation for drainage and pavement along VA Pkwy will follow utilities.
Once complete the contractor will move to installation of electrical and
communications sleeves along Preston St (S) from VA Pkwy to E Jefferson.
Affected businesses will be contacted to coordinate any lane closures.
Project will start with Sanitary sewer improvements on VA Pkwy and Water main
replacements on VA Pkwy and N Main.

Crystal DeBacker
Media Coordinator
City of Van Alstyne

cdebacker@cityofvanalstyne.us
903-357-1088

Chief Ryan Dockery of the Van Alstyne Fire Department met with me to discuss the brand new ambulance the department ordered as well as the new public safety facility coming to Van Alstyne.

This new ambulance brings the Fire Department vehicles to:

2 engines

2 ambulances

2 brush trucks

1 command vehicle

And the current roles at the fire department are 12 full time positions, 9 paramedics, and 3 positions available

When did we move forward to purchase of new ambulance

Chief Dockery knows the lead time for the required chassis can be up to 2 years, so being proactive to stay within the desired equipment replacement plan, early 2022 quotes were requested and the selection was made. A proposal was taken to city council for approval and the order was placed in May of 2022. We anticipate we will get it as early as the last week of October.

Focus behind this addition

We know we are growing, not shrinking. But this is replacing older equipment to maintain adequate services within the equipment replacement plan. The new ambulance is replacing our oldest ambulance that was purchased in 2013, which is being traded in.

Additional new vehicle plans

The VAFD has also ordered a new fire engine, and this will serve as the new frontline engine and putting the old frontline engine in reserve. The old reserve engine will be sold. The estimated completion date is summer 2024.

This engine is being purchased with funds from the agreement with the Mantua Point development.  There are also funds to order another ambulance. We may order another ambulance soon with these funds to stay proactive with the vehicle replacement plan because of the lead time needed.

New Public Safety facility

The new public safety facility will house police, fire and have a community area. FD is being designed to be a double company station, which means it will operate an ambulance, ladder and engine and possibly a brush, and would also house administration.

We currently are a single company station because we don’t have a ladder. We have a fire engine and an ambulance.

A Fire Marshall would be hired when the city grows into that. In planning for this facility, the design allows us to grow into it in the next several years. The plan for this facility is to fit our department for many many years into the future as Van Alstyne continues to grow.

New hires

In 2024, 1 new firefighter position will become available in January, and that will bring all shifts to 5 personnel per shit.

Future plans include additional command and administrative staff as well as a Fire Marshall position.

Crystal DeBacker
Media Coordinator
City of Van Alstyne

cdebacker@cityofvanalstyne.us
903-357-1088